1st time Disney vacationer needs advise!

[jeptmyers]

Going to Disney for Mardis Gras Feb.22-28. Will my 2 and 6yr old enjoy Pop Century over the other resorts like the Grand Floridian?

 

[mmmears]

Congratulations for planning your first trip!


I've never stayed at POP. I took a 2 year old to the Yacht Club & she loved the huge sandy water play area and the kiddie waterslide and the huge swimming pool. She also liked the beach and the boats that transport to Epcot & DHS.

We also took our DD to the Grand Floridian. She loves the pools and the monorails there, plus the boat to the Magic Kingdom.

Next time we're trying out Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Polynesian (a favorite of many families).

Honestly, I dont think little kids know any difference -- you could choose any of the WDW resorts -- they all have pools and places for kids to play.

All of the Moderates & Deluxes have waterslides and hot tubs (except the Poly doesn't have a hot tub) and I think most of them have "beaches" the kids can play on (but they cant go in the lakes).

When our DD was little we chose Deluxe resorts because we like a nice hotel when we are on vacation and we wanted to be very close to the parks so we could go back and swim and nap in the middle of the day.

Some people go all day at the parks and only use their hotel for sleeping, so they wouldn't want to spend the money on a fancy resort.

I suggest you pick a price point (value, mod, or deluxe) and then choose by proximity to the parks (if that's important to you) and theming -- what appeals most to your family.

Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Lynne M]

Well, Pop Century is brightly colored, and has giant coke cups and bowling pins and stuff. I guess that would appeal to kids. But it in no way compares to the GF, which has much bigger rooms with balconies, queen beds, the monorail, much nicer pools, a beach, better food options, and is mere minutes from the MK. It also has organized activities for kids, and easy access to other resorts with kids activities, like FW. There's a wide variety of recreation options - boat rentals, bike rentals, etc.

I've stayed at Pop, and enjoyed it. It's a very, very nice motel, but it's still a motel. Double beds, no balconies, very small rooms, need to keep your curtains closed all the time because your only window opens out onto a walkway. Food court only, no sit-down restaurants. The pools are nicely themed, but there's no slide, and no zero-entry area like the GF has. Bus transportation only.

If the GF is within your budget, there's no question. Go with GF.

 

[jeptmyers]

Thanks for the response. What is a zero-entry?

 

[mmmears]

A zero-entry pool is a pool that you dont need to use the stairs to enter. It is gently sloped from the patio (like a beach, but without the sand) so that you can just wade in as it gets deeper. It's great for little kids who like to sit down in the water and play, and those who aren't great swimmers, since it goes from one-inch depth to regular depth. It also stops the little kids from hugging the stairs because they cant swim.

Hope this explanation makes sense. I believe that all or most of the deluxe resorts have pools like this.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Welcome to the DIS!

I have to agree with mmmears. I don't think little kids really distinguish between the hotels. They're just happy to be at Disney. If POP Century is what your budget allows, then stay at Pop Century, and you'll have a great time. In fact, if it's your first vacation to Disney, you may really stop and think about how much time you'll actually be spending in your room anyhow. You may also want to think about the other side of the coin. If you spend a lot for GF, will you're children really notice or appreciate it. I'd say stay at Pop, save some money, and use that money for other experiences like character meals, souveniers, etc.

 

[bas71873]

Welcome to the DIS!

I have to agree with mmmears. I don't think little kids really distinguish between the hotels. They're just happy to be at Disney. If POP Century is what your budget allows, then stay at Pop Century, and you'll have a great time. In fact, if it's your first vacation to Disney, you may really stop and think about how much time you'll actually be spending in your room anyhow. You may also want to think about the other side of the coin. If you spend a lot for GF, will you're children really notice or appreciate it. I'd say stay at Pop, save some money, and use that money for other experiences like character meals, souveniers, etc.

I agree. We did our first WDW trip over Mardi Gras 2008 and stayed at POP and we loved it. DD (4 at the time) does not know value from delux and loved all the icons and bright colors at POP. Now, all we did was sleep & shower...we pretty much commando-ed everything else so we weren't in the room a whole lot. We did swim some and not having zero entry is not a huge deal....there are steps into the pool. I say save your money and splurge on other things for your first trip.....BBB, character meals, souveniers, lots of photopass photos.

Now, DD and I returned in October for a mommy/daugther weekend and we stayed at WL.....I LOVED it. With it just being the 2 of us and only doing MK and the MNSSHP, WL was convenient and small enough for us to get around on our own. But DD still didn't have a clue. A bed is a bed to her and she was crashed out the second her head hit the pillow every night!!!

I say save your $$ and start planning trip #2

 

[kaffinito]

Welcome to the DIS!

With a 2 and a 6 year old you could opt for convenience and stay at a monorail resort (easy in and easy out) but they cost more money. Mods cost less than Deluxe resorts, and they have more space at the resort and more / bigger pools.

However, for your first trip and to save money like some pp's have suggested, I would go for POP. The rooms are smaller, but the pools are nice and fun. POP also has the Goofy Pop Jets, which are fun fro both kids and adults. POP also has a really great store, and a really good food court at Everything POP. POP also has dedicated buses, and I think it would be a great place to stay on your first trip. That way you can check out the other resorts while you are there and see which ones you might like to try in the future.

Happy Planning!

 

[eliza61]

Going to Disney for Mardis Gras Feb.22-28. Will my 2 and 6yr old enjoy Pop Century over the other resorts like the Grand Floridian?

Welcome to the dis
some "words of wisdom"

• -don't be afraid to ask any question. Disney can be slightly overwhelming, there is no such thing as a silly question...
• -with that being said, take all answers with a grain of salt.. for every negative report on transportation you will find equally as many people who haven't had any problems whatsoever. Try not to stress to much.
• -find the style that fits your family. You will get so many varying opinions on how to tour. Some people swear that if you don't do rope drop, you won't get any thing do. Some others believe rope drops are evil and if they wanted to get up at the crack of dawn they would go to work. Others are commandos, while still others are laid back. the right one is the one that fits your family.

Last but not least... have a great time.

 

[NeverBeen2DW]

I stayed at Pop on my last trip. We did enjoy the resort and we usually stay at the moderate resorts. However, one reason why I would never stay there agian right now is because the bus stop is always the furthest away at every destination. I travel alone with my 6 yr old. On that trip he just turned 6. The first day we left the stroller home after that exeprience I brought the stroller every day. In fact we are going to DW in Dec and staying at the boardwalk and I will be bringing my stroller agian. At 6 they are still to young to do all of this walking and tire easy. Also tyring to motivate a tired 6 yr old to walk if very hard and they are very heavy. My vote is for the GF especially with 2 little ones. Save Pop for when they hit the 10 and up age group.